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from: Public Knowlegde

Maryland Broadband Bills Should Send Connect Kentucky Home

From Public Knowledge, February 19, 2008
By Art Brodsky

Over the next couple of weeks, the Maryland General Assembly will consider a modest step in helping to further the spread of high-speed Internet services in the state. It could be a positive step, or a harmful misstep.

from: Towson Times

Fiber-optic cable work leaves lawns with scars

07/25/07
by Bryan P. Sears

Paula Gore isn't happy with the state of her lawn these days.

It's not pests or lack of rain. Gore is upset with the topsoil-covered patches and trenches that dot her yard and others along her cul-de-sac of 4,600-square-foot homes along Tremblant Court near St. Paul's School.

Note: The telco mantra for obtaining state and national franchises has been that "competition" = "lower prices". This line is reflected in astroturf campaigns and free market think tank studies. The reality is areas where telcos have entered the market is turning out to be quite different - both telcos and cable companies are raising rates.

from: Washington Post

from: Isen Blog

Benefits of Competition My Ass
Monday, February 19, 2007

Here's a little nugget from today's Washington Post. The headline from the story should be, "Verizon Competes, Rates Climb."

Bills for thousands of Montgomery County cable viewers will increase by 4 percent starting March 1, when Comcast Corp., suburban Maryland's largest cable television provider, raises rates throughout the Washington region.

Note: In state after state this has been the same story. Telcos promise 'competition' and 'lower cable rates' in exchange for deregulatory legislation - yet prices continue to rise . . .

from: Washington Post

Cable War Fails to Offer Rate Relief in Montgomery

from: Towson Times

Towson, Cockeysville up first for Verizon cable?

02/09/07
by Bryan P. Sears

Cable competition is coming to Baltimore County.

The County Council is expected to vote March 5 on a 15-year cable franchise contract negotiated with Verizon.

from: Maryland Gazette Net

Why Verizon picked Montgomery for its battle

‘‘I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!”— Capt. Renault in ‘‘Casablanca”

When Verizon recently dug into its vast bag of armaments and lobbed a lawsuit at Montgomery County, the only one apparently surprised by the move was County Council Vice President Marilyn Praisner. In a statement released after the July 4 holiday, Praisner admitted to being ‘‘stunned to have these false accusations by Verizon leveled against Montgomery County.”